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For good carry out Mexican food, check out Fuerta Market in East Chicago. It's located on the corner of Brodway and Fir street in the Harbor. There's a small taco stand inside. The food is outstanding, and very reasonable. It's carry-out only, but the beach and Marina are just a few minutes away. They also sell the Mexican Coke in 16 ounce heavy glass bottles. I recommend the pork tacos and the gordita.

Map to it:
http://local.yahoo.com/info-27335468-fu ... st-chicago

It's a nice little neighborhood place. Nothing spectacular, but the food was quite enjoyable.



Next time I'm in the area, I'll have to give it a try.

So I was doing a bit of shopping at Supermercado Ortega on Kennedy in Hessville when I noticed a sign advertising barbacoa, carnitas, and birria. Has anyone tried them here? I'm coming back Sunday to try some of it all, and will report back later.

I've only had their tamales,but they were outstanding. There are also a couple of positive reviews here

I used to get great tamales in the Harbor at some small joint. Can't recall the name, this was about 20 years ago. Ring any bells? I doubt if they are still around.

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What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about?

I'm not sure where to get tamales in the Harbor. However, the tamales on the other side of town at La Chiquita are absolutely top notch. Chiquita also features carnitas and barbaccoa on Saturdays.
http://local.yahoo.com/info-15938253-ca ... st-chicago

From Southland Savvy
Papa Damiani Pizza, a fixture in Dolton from 1957 until its closing in April, reopened a few weeks ago inside the North Woods restaurant at 8101 Wicker Ave. in St. John, Ind. For more information, visit http://www.northwoodsdining.com/ or check out their page on Facebook.

Lou Damiani shows off the sign from the original location.

Took a ride through Miller yesterday. Sad. Miller Pizza still going. If in the area... they d a great job and Scott is a great guy.

Cavalier Inn at 735 Gostlin Street in Hammond, is a bar with a dining hall in the back which is open daily for lunch and dinner. Wifey and I had dinner there yesterday. I had the Golabky-stuffed cabbage(2) plate (comes with a choice of potato,vegetable du jour,bread basket,coleslaw,cottage cheese, and kidney bean salad) It was perfection;moist,juicy filling wrapped in tender cabbage with the tomato sauce on top.Wifey had the 1/2 order of lake perch,only available deep fried,comes with the same sides. I normally don't like perch but I tasted this and it was excellent,with a light breading but slightly chewy on the edges. I think the total with 2 iced teas came to $13.68 or close to it. Out of our last 3 visits,this one was the best. http://cavalierinn.net/

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It’s more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use
long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like
“What about lunch?”
—Winnie The Pooh
"... a good dinner is of great importance to good talk. One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well."
Virginia Woolf : A Room of One's Own

I drove by that place today as I had a job interview about 2 blocks away. I thought it looked interesting and here is a post on the place.

Cool!

I hope I get the job there as there are a lot of places on this thread that I want to try.

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"Make Lunch, Not War" ~ Anon

fingers crossed for you Panther!!!

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“The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues.” Elizabeth Taylor

I have been going to the caviler for a long time. A while back a bud and me dined there and we ordered every polish item a la carte. I believe it cost us $12 each. It was excelent and got me back to eating cheese perogi. Good luck with the job.Be warned they close early at 8 pm.

I live a mile or two from Cavalier Inn. I enjoy the food, which is always good, and Wally is a great host. I do think the decor could use a facelift.

I also hope you get or got the job and get to try all the places on this thread. Please let us know how it went.

_________________
It’s more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use
long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like
“What about lunch?”
—Winnie The Pooh
"... a good dinner is of great importance to good talk. One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well."
Virginia Woolf : A Room of One's Own

Hi,

The Moms and I walked into Cavalier just before 1 pm this afternoon. A woman sitting at the bar advised they open at 3 pm on Saturday. Wally came strolling in as we prepared to depart. When he learned we wanted to eat, he said sit down. While they are normally open at 3 pm, he had cooks arriving early to make chicken for his kid's soccer game.

From listening to the conversation, we learned this woman was Wally's Mom. His Mom and other women make the pierogi by hand. They arrive Tuesday and Wednesday evening around 8:30 pm to make pierogi until 2 or 3 am. I commented on how I admire her unique style of crimping the edges different for each filling. She explained once the pierogi are fried, the cook's could not tell which filling was inside.

Afterwards we stopped by the main Hammond Public Library. I wanted to visit their local history museum. Since the principle staff member was vacation, it was effectively closed for the day. This is a very nicely appointed library. Hammond is celebrating their 125th anniversary with a small exhibit there. I plan to return sometime soon.

Regards,

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Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

Hi,

Yesterday's visit to Cavalier was the first time during the day. The naturally lit room offered an opportunity for better pictures than my earlier ones.


Relish tray, October 16, 2010 by cal222, on Flickr

The cottage cheese and creamy coleslaw are nothing special. However their kidney bean salad is clearly doctored on the premises with dill and mayonnaise (and perhaps sour cream, too).


Potato Pancakes, October 16, 2010 by cal222, on Flickr


Pierogi, October 16, 2010 by cal222, on Flickr

Note how the edges of the pierogi are smooth, scalloped and edged with a fork. Each edge indicates a different filling.


Fried chicken livers, October 16, 2010 by cal222, on Flickr

These were pretty good chicken livers, though I have had even better chicken livers there before. I chalk this up to arriving two hours before they were ready to serve.

Lunch was pretty quiet because Mom2 was busy listening to the Polish spoken at the bar.

Regards,

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Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

Thanks! The job did come through and I start Monday.

It will take a few days to settle in but you can bet I will be working through the list and be reporting back.

Yay!

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"Make Lunch, Not War" ~ Anon

Congrats PITD!! I'm in NWI regularly so happy to meet up with your for some of the exploration when schedules permit!

Good luck with your new gig!

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“The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues.” Elizabeth Taylor

In preparation of working in the area I took on the monumental task of preparing a map for this thread.

Map

I will be available to check out these places after about a week or so. If anyone is in the area and would like to join me just drop me a PM

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"Make Lunch, Not War" ~ Anon

Some of the places on your list (eg, Miller Bakery Cafe and Cafe Elise) are no longer in business.

Some of the places on your list (eg, Taco Real and Freddy's) should no longer be in business.

And you're missing some good places (eg, Warsaw Inn in Lynwood, Bread Basket in Hammond).

Where in the area will you be working? The area on your map is quite large, and it might be a good idea to narrow it down a bit. For example, a trip from downtown Hammond to a Valparaiso restaurant such as Pikk's or Don Quixote would take about an hour in non-rush-hour traffic...

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Pi r round.

Thanks for the updates! Deletes deleted, adds added. I have heard some good things about Taco Real and Freddy's (from sources other than this forum) and I still might check them out.

I am just off of the corner of S Calumet Ave and E Chicago St in Hammond.

This map is just a representation of the places mentioned on this thread and I do know some will be out of my range.

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"Make Lunch, Not War" ~ Anon

You're working in what is called North Hammond, and that intersection is very close to Cavalier Inn. I suppose the best way to start would be to go south on Calumet into Munster. A large number of places on your list are on (or just off) that stretch of Calumet in Hammond and Munster. And many more are on (or just off) Ridge Road in Munster, Highland, and Lansing.

PM on the way.

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Pi r round.

Hey panther in the den. Whats wrong with Fredy's steak house? Below Chicago prices and excellent Quality.

Hi,

I am always hoping to go to Freddy's. I want their garlic butter on a steak.

Regards,

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Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

That's Kelsey's, not Freddy's.

I then revise my wish, I'd like to go to both.

Regards,

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Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

A couple years ago I would have agreed with you. Today...one out of two ain't bad. The quality of the steaks was, um, not so great on my last couple visits. If I want a similar atmosphere and similar prices, but better steaks and service, I'd go to Town Club in Highland. For a couple bucks more, I'd go to Giovanni's in Munster or Gino's in Dyer and get a MUCH better steak.

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Pi r round.

I have never understood the fascination in these parts with El Taco Real. IMO,at best it's mediocre food for Gringos.

We finally stumbled across Memo's yesterday (strange that you need to stumble upon a restaurant in a town this small) and had lunch. I had some enchiladas and MincyBits had some sort of fancy carnitas plate (I'll let her elucidate further) but the stand-out was clearly the appetizer of queso fundido. Gooey but still crispy and brown on top, I abandoned my entrée in an effort to finish off the plate of delicious cheese. (Enchiladas will reheat better, I reasoned) though I'm still paying for it, gastrointestinally speaking.

Also, they had some of the best flour tortillas I've had in a restaurant. Though I'm usually a corn man, the flour tortillas had some thickness and substance that really set them apart. Sadly, the tortilla chips were stale and lackluster in comparison. I don't doubt they'd be better when fresh, but we were there at an odd time on Sunday.

We'll definitely be back sometime after my stomach ceases it's war.

I second this. My BF's mom is MEXICAN and swears this is the best place--and it's terrible. She used to go on an on about how BF had to take me there since she knows I love Mexican food. Well we finally went about 6 months ago for a graduation lunch--wow--americanized, processed, spice-free and tacky. It reminded me of a Chi Chi's!!

I think the adoration is based on nostalgia from when this generation of folks lived on the southside of Chicago and the parents and grandparents were doing the cooking...when they moved to NWI, along with the population of those areas, something definitely was lost in the process. Even she admits that the food was better at the old location.

Memo's Taco Mex in Highland is much better. Though more like a fast food place in ambience, the food is actually quite delicious, particularly the tamales and tacos. The family that owns it is really nice as well.

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“The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues.” Elizabeth Taylor